Vehicle.



. Patented Dec. 10, 19M. IR. A. MORTON.

VEHICLE".

(Application filed Mar. 16, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

F-cg 3 WITNESSES No. 688,743. Paiented Dec. I0, I905.

R. A. WWHTUN.

VEHICLE.

(Application filed Mar. 16, 1901.) (Mo Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES IN VEN 70/? m: Noam: PETERS co. Pnovo-umou WASMINGTON, u c.

Patented Dec. l0, l90l. R. A. MORTON.

VEHICLE. (A lication filed Mar. 16, 1901.

3 Sheets--$heet 3.

(No Model.)

IN VENTOH fioZ/afi.%riam A TTOHNE rs WITNESSES:

M A M r & m 4 W-Q UNITED STATES PATENT FFI-CE.

' ROLLA ALLEXANDER MORTON, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,743, dated December10, 1901. Application filed March 16, 1901. Serial No. 51,450. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoLLA ALLEXANDER MORTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara andState of California, have invented a new and Improved Vehicle, of whichthe following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a vehicle which may be propelled eithermanually or by power and which enables me to combine an ordinary bicyclewith certain improved parts, so as to form a tricycle vehicle which maybe used to carry packages or other freight or even a plurality ofriders, according to the desire of the builder.

This specification is the specific description of two forms'of theinvention, while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the framing ofthe attachment, particularly that part of the framing which supports thepackagecarrier. Fig. 4 is a rear view of the invention. Fig. 5 is adetail view of the clamp for attaching the framing to the bicycle. Fig.6 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 7 is a cross-section onthe line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a side view of the machine equippedwith a motor of the internal-combustion type. Fig. 9 is a rear view ofthe same, and Fig. 10 is a detail View of a modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawings, 10 represents asafety-bicycle of the usual form. 11 represents an approximatelyrectangular framing, which stands in essentially a vertical position andwhich has a hinge 12 at its lower right-hand corner. This hinge 12 joinsto a bar 14, which is attached by suitable clamps 15, to be hereinafterdescribed, to the rear part of the bicycle 10. By. this arrangement theframe 11 is supported on the bicycle and is capable of swinging withrespect thereto around the axis of the pintle of the hinge 12. Ahand-lever 16 is fulcrumed on the frame 11 and is connected by a link 17with the bar 14. By throwing this lever 16 the bicycle 10 may be rockedtoward or from the frame 11, and thus the position of the bicycle withrespect to the frame 11 may be regulated. A toothed quadrant 18 isattached to the frame 11 and works with a suitable pawl 19 on thehand-lever, so as to hold the hand-lever in the desired position. Anypreferred mechanism may be provided for holding the hand-lever 16 inposition with respeet to the quadrant 18. The hand-lever may be allowedto swing freely under ordinary circumstances and be fitted with devicesfor holding it under extraordinary conditions and also for permitting itto be shifted manually according to the immediately active conditionsattending the use of the vehicle.

The outer portion of the frame 11 is supported by a single wheel 19,which is mounted in a fork 20 similar to the usual rear fork of asafety-bicycle. The upper end of this fork is fastened in a socket 21,carried on the frame 11, and the lower inner arm of the fork is joinedto an extension 22 of the frame 11, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 4. Ittherefore will be seen that by means of the bicycle 10, the frame 11,the wheel 19, and the fork 20 an essentially tricycle structure isproduced. This structure may be propelled by a rider seated on the seatof the bicycle 10 and operating the pedals thereof in the usual manner.

From the upper outer portion of the frame 11 a brace 23 passesdiagonally to the steering-head of the bicycle 10, to which such braceis attached by means of a clamp 24, similar to the clamps 15 referred tobefore. From the extension 22 of the frame 11 a brace 25 passes, suchbrace extending to the clamp 2i and being fastened thereto similarly tothe brace 23. These braces 23 and 25 connect the outer part of the frame11 with the front part of the bicycle 10, and provide a structure whichwill prevent the sagging backward of the frame 11. The braces 23 and 25are made to yield slightly, so that the necessary adjustments of theframe ll may be effected.

On the frame 11 is erected a super-frame for carrying a box orreceptacle 26 for packages and like freight. This frame consists of twolongitudinally-extending bars 27, joined by a cross-bar 28, as bestshown in Fig. 3, the bars 27 having their front ends connected with thetop bar of the frame 11, and the cross-bar 28 being adjacent to therearends of the longitudinal bars 27. Braces 29 project upward from theextension 23 of the frame 11 and are joined, respectively, to thecross-bar 28 and to the top bar of the frame 11, as best shown in Fig.3, thus holding the frame of the box 26 rigid on the frame 11. Thelongitudinal bars 28 carry springs 30, which sustain the box 26, asshown. The clamps 15 and 24 are duplicates in construction, and areshown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. In these figures the bar 14 is shown; butthis bar occupies with respect to the clamps essentially the sameposition as the braces 23 and 25. The clamps consist of flexible straps31, constructed, preferably, of leather, and provided with buckles 32for joining their ends together. These straps may be provided on theirinner-surfaces with Wear-pieces 33, also formed of leather or similarmaterial, to cause the straps to firmly engage with the part of thebicycle to which the straps are applied. In Figs. 5, 6, and 7, 10represents the bicycle. The straps 31 are looped and passed throughwashers or gaskets 34 and projected into a cavity formed in the bar 14,at which points the straps are engaged with T headed bolts 35, passedthrough the bar 14, and having nuts 36, by which the bolts may betightened. In applying these clamps the straps 31 are fastened tightaround the bicycle, and then the nuts 36 are screwed up, so as toincrease the tension of the straps, thus engaging the straps with thebicyclewith all possible firmness.

Figs. 8 and 9 show my invention with an internal-combustion engine 37arranged to drive it. This engine is suitably supported from the box orfreight-receptacle 26, which receptacle also supports the tank 38 forcontaining the hydrocarbon with which the en- 'giue 37 is operated. Theengine 37 drives a sprocket-chain 39, which is passed around asprocket-wheel 40, to drive the same. This sprocketwheel is carried on ashaft 41, mounted in an arm 42, supported from the frame 11. The shaft41 also carries a sprocketwheel 43, over which a chain 44 passes to asprocket-wheel 45, mounted on the axis of the wheel 19. In this form ofthe invention the wheel 19 serves as the traction-wheel, and the pedalsof the bicycle 10 may be dispensed with, since they are not necessarilyemployed.

If desired, the braces 25 and 23 may be constructed quite rigid, and adevice, such as that shown in Fig. 10, employed to allow the necessaryadjusting movement of the frame 11. This device consists of a body-plate24, adapted to be suitably fastened to the bicycle and carryingpivotally a bar 24*. This bar 24 has pivoted thereto a double socket 2523, which is adapted to carry the braces 25 and 23. It will be observedthat the parts 24 and 25 23 are universally pivoted, and this allows themovement necessary to the braces 25 ant 23.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a vehicle, the combination with a bicycle, of aframe with which the bicycle is connected to move relatively thereto,means extending between the bicycle and the frame for effecting suchrelative movement, and a wheel'carried by and supporting the outer partof the frame.

2. In a vehicle, the combination of a bicycle, a frame hingedly attachedthereto, means for moving the bicycle with respect to the frame, and awheel carried by the outer part of the frame and supporting thesame.

3. In a vehicle, the combination of a bicycle, a frame hingedl'y mountedthereon, a hand-lever mounted on the frame, a link extending between thehand-lever and the bicycle to adjust the relative position of thebicycle and the frame, and a Wheel carried by and supporting the outerpart of the frame.

4. In a vehicle, the combination of a bicycle, a frame hingedlyconnected thereto, the means for moving the bicycle relatively to theframe, a wheel carried by and supporting the outer part of the frame,and a brace extending from the outer part of the-frame diagonally to thefront of the bicycle, and connected thereto to permit such relativemovement of the bicycle.

5. A vehicle, comprising two wheeled members adjnstably connected witheach other, a spring-supported motor carried on one member,and gearingextending between the motor and the wheel of the member whereon it iscarried,such gearing comprising a movementtransmitting shaft mounted infixed bearings on said member of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle having a frame, a motor yieldingly supported thereon, atraction-wheel mounted on the frame, and gearing for driv ing thetraction-wheel from the motor, such gearing comprising amovement-transmitting shaft mounted in fixed hearings in the frame andgeared with the motor and with the traction-wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ROLLA ALLEXANDER MORTON.

Witnesses:

E. O. BRUNHOUSE, O. H. JOHNSON.

